The first Hospitality Education & HR Summit 2018 by BW Hotelier explored the talent requirements of the Indian hospitality industry and the education model of higher education providers, both in India and abroad. I was honoured to deliver a keynote address on the next generation of hospitality professionals and moderate a panel on whether hospitality management schools meet the needs of the industry with eminent hoteliers, human resources experts and executive chefs.

The consensus was that academics and professionals will need to work closely together to address the prevalent skills gap in the hospitality industry. Academics need the inputs from industry leaders to adapt and make course content more relevant, while companies need to maintain close relations with schools to secure and retain the best available talent.

Q. How Les Roches is adopting a global approach in Hospitality Education

Hospitality management education is so unique because it combines practical with theoretical training: The traditional Swiss model of education lays the operational foundation of food & beverage (kitchen, service) and rooms division (reception and housekeeping) already on campus to prepare students for mandatory internships, where they apply and develop their skills in a real-world environment.

After the foundation of the first campus in Switzerland, Les Roches has taken this tested approach and established branch campuses in Spain and China, following the same curriculum and offering students transfer opportunities to best prepare them for global careers in hospitality management.

Q. How Les Roches constantly innovates their academic offers to help students experience the latest in the industry

Thanks to close connections with the hospitality industry, we constantly update and innovate our curriculum. For the coming semester starting in September 2018, we are launching a new set of specializations for our Bachelor students to choose from Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing, Finance, available in Switzerland and Resort Management in Spain.

But it is not only the course content that needs constant innovation to stay relevant in the dynamic hospitality industry, also the course delivery needs to be adapted to the preferences and behaviors of today’s students. Through a dynamic flipped-classroom approach, we allow students to acquire theoretical knowledge online and in their own time, to engage in group work and discussion in the classroom.

Q. How Postgraduate Diplomas, available in Switzerland and Spain with different specializations are offering the opportunity to earn an MBA degree by just one additional semester of studies

The Postgraduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management is an intensive one-year consisting of one academic semester and one semester-long internship, providing the skills for students with no previous relevant professional experience to launch their careers in the hospitality industry. Once they complete their coursework and internships, successful graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma can join the MBA in Global Hospitality Management at Les Roches Switzerland and directly enter the second semester.

The MBA degree develops innovative, globally aware leaders through a curriculum of strategic management theory and real-world problem-solving. The core courses transfer essential skills for business management, while individual research projects and electives allow students to personalize their educational experience.

Q. Her views on the hospitality industry in India and where does she see it growing in next few years

India is experiencing a strong growth in the travel & tourism sector leading to further job creation. Foreign arrivals have reached a record high of 10 million in 2017, attributing to India’s global attractiveness and hospitality diversity (namely through medical, cultural, heritage, eco-friendly tourism) as a destination and the effectiveness of different national tourism campaigns.

To deal with this influx of visitors from abroad, it is vital for hospitality professionals to gain international exposure and experience to better cater to the needs of these discerning guests and offer the service standards they have come to expect. This will require institutions to create international synergies, a globally-focused curriculum, and innovative teaching methods.